Home-building control panel

[Chuffchuff]

If you want to go down the electronics fun route, take a look at the Arduino section of the forum. There is lots to play with. Interesting bits and pieces and falls between DC and DCC. But cheaper than a commitment to the latter.

Rgds

[Ninemil]

Thanks for the tip, Chuffchuff.
I will take a look. The electronics fun route may be a little way off for me just now (I've lots of other things to do!) but it does appeal for future projects.

[Ninemil]

There are so many little tips and tricks in this forum! Thanks to mountain goat for the ideas about controllers, specifically:
1) multiple sockets around a layout to just plug the controller in
2) a strip of velcro the edge of the layout to stick the hand held controller to, wherever it's needed
Brilliant ideas!

[Brian]

Multi sockets placed around the layout does allow moving the controller around. But do be fully aware the moment the controller is unplugged everything it feeds stops!

[yelrow]

Morley hand held units are Brilliant. You get 2 with controller, can flick between, and can buy extensions. Great piece of kit.

[darkscot]

Morley hand held units are Brilliant. You get 2 with controller, can flick between, and can buy extensions. Great piece of kit.

Did Morley controllers use to be blue? When I bought my Gaugemaster WS controller many years ago at (I think) the York Show, it was a toss up between that and another brand that look the same but was blue. I almost bought that other model as it came with a fitted DIN plug.

[yelrow]

I think mine is grey, too cold to go and look. I have a Guagemaster as well, but personally, prefer the Morley.

[Stese]

If you are looking for the 'walkabout' style, you might want to have a nose at the new HM6000 app-based control kit that Hornby is bringing out... it's currently due this spring.

Its basically a bluetooth box, which you can connect to the track. Your phone or tablet connects to the box and allows you to set the direction and speed as if it were a DC controller. It has many other features, but that's the basics. It can run 2 'circuits' per HM6000 box.

I'll be doing a full review on it once mine arrives.

There is also another device that will allow you to control up to 32 (8 per box) 'devices' (signals, points etc) from the same app.